Many elk in NM have been taken with standard corelok and such over the years. No reason you shouldn't try to increase your margins by using better performers.

I agree ...We killed Four elk in Wyoming last year...Two were killed with that ammo and both were shot in the front shoulder with 30-06 rifles.. 380 yards and
460 yards DRT..The other two were killed with Barnes TSX bullets ,,620 yards and 965 yards both high shoulder shots ..One went 15 yards the other 10 feet..
The first was killed with a 300 wby. and the second with a 338 lapua..